Activities designed to help pupils develop spatial abilities with cubes and right angles are presented. Instructions for manufacturing the special three-dimensional objects described are included. (MP)

Defines cases, symmetry, and analysis as the heuristic strategies most commonly employed by a select group of high school students in solving novel mathematics problems. Confirms that the utilization of heuristics appears to be problem-dependent. Describes the procedure, actual problems, results, and recommendations of the study. (SB)

Children who come to school without numerical game-playing experience have trouble with math relationships in direct-instruction situations. This article explores the varied roles of active thinking, social interaction, previous knowledge, and child-initiated choice in children's development of math concepts. Self-esteem cannot be built by doing…

Describes an extended investigation of polygons and polyhedra which was conducted in response to a challenge posed in Focus, a newsletter from the Mathematical Association of America (MAA). Students were challenged to construct a polyhedron with faces that measure more than 13 inches to a side. Outlines the process, including the questions posed…

When using spreadsheets to explore real-world problems involving periodic change, students can observe what happens at each period, generate a graph, and learn how changing the starting quantity or constants affects results. Spreadsheet lessons for high school students are presented that explore mathematical modeling, linear programming, and…

Describes a study of third-grade students (N=38) that investigates the development of linear measurement concepts. Three levels of strategies were identified: visual guessing, hash marks, and no physical partitioning. Students who connected numeric and spatial representations proved to be the better problem solvers. Contains 22 reference. (DDR)

Examined children's mathematical competencies between ages 7 and 9. Found no differences in developmental rate between children with math difficulties only (MD), math and reading difficulties (MD-RD), reading difficulties only (RD), and normal math/reading achievement (NA). Found that at end of Grade 3, MD group performed better than MD-RD group…

Both general and specific effective strategies for teaching decimals, fractions, and percents to students with learning disabilities are presented. Information is provided on the theoretical base that underlies these curricular areas, recent research, and future trends. The need for programs to be structured around individualization and intensity…

Based on a college-level geometry course, presents practical suggestions for integrating exploratory computer applications into the mathematics classroom. Reveals that students need more experimental time with technology to reduce anxiety, and assessments need to be developed and implemented to tap the outcomes of problem solving and higher level…

Presents an approach to explaining a relation, a - b = -(b - a), that is difficult for algebra students to understand. The approach came about as a result of discussions with students in which they provided many novel explanations. (DDR)

Four students (ages 8-11) with mild mental retardation used an animated tutorial computer program to learn mathematical problem solving. Results indicated that all students obtained significant gains from pretest to posttest and had positive attitudes toward computers after training. Transfer of the problem-solving skills to paper-and-pencil…

Suggests that involving Russian experts in solving concrete educational problems and providing curriculum development in the United States could be very useful. A primary goal would be to change the attitudes and beliefs of teachers and to extend teachers' views on teaching mathematics. (AIM)

Describes a project combining precalculus and transition mathematics students focusing on popcorn by comparing popping ratios of different brands of popcorn and finding what size box could hold the most popped corn. Project design required group effort and cooperation. Students exhibited growth of positive attitudes toward the study of mathematics…

Describes a successful course in mathematical biology at Dartmouth College. The course targets premedical students and biology majors rather than mathematics majors, and requires only one semester of calculus as prerequisite. Real world problems form the basis of student work. (Author/KHR)

The time may be ripe for the fields of mathematics education, special education, and cognitive psychology to converge, with their respective focuses on mathematical problem solving, individual differences among students, and analysis of cognitive processes. Four articles on learning disabilities in mathematics are introduced, and a research agenda…